Bailey Mes's value to New Zealand netball isn't limited to her undoubted talents in the shooting circle and Australia's Diamonds have seen that firsthand.
Better known in the black dress as a goal shoot, Mes stepped up in Sunday's 57-47 quad series win over Australia with a stand-out performance at goal attack.
She sunk 17 from 18 attempts, backing up Te Paea Selby-Rickit's 35 from 41, but it was the 28-year-old's work further up the court which proved a game-changer for New Zealand.
Not only did she work endlessly as a midcourt link into the circle, she was outstanding in generating turnover ball further up the court with a superb defensive effort.
Australian coach Lisa Alexander admitted her team didn't cope well with Mes at goal attack, where she's only played four quarters in the black dress, most recently in 2014.
"Bailey Mes in that centre third made a hell of a difference," Alexander said.
"Because of her athleticism, I think she actually provided two points to the zone that haven't been there before.
"We didn't respect her enough, we threw into her hands deep into our defensive third, and that's just unacceptable."
Mes's stunning performance gives Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby a new range of options when veteran Maria Tutaia returns from bereavement leave.
"Bailey did a hell of a lot of work up court on attack, and particularly on defence," Southby said."We've always known that she's a really strong defender, and to pick up three intercepts was fantastic."
Australia next face New Zealand in the four-match Constellation Cup series beginning in Auckland on October 5.
